Born Feb. 20, 1971, in Berlin, she was the daughter of Allen H. and Vivie (Peatman) Ward Sr. She attended Montpelier elementary schools and graduated from Twinfield Union School in Marshfield.

On April 3, 1993, she married Thomas M. Carter in the Macedonia Baptist Church in Plainfield. Following their marriage, they made their home at their current residence.

For several years, she had been a substitute teacher at the Twinfield Union School and established many special relationships with her students.

She enjoyed spending time with her family, reading and her gardens. Watching her husband, Tom, and son, Josh, race at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, N.H., and at Barre’s Thunder Road was her life. Also a special time was shopping with her daughter, her mother and her sisters.

Besides her husband, Tom, she leaves her daughter, Amanda Carter, of Marshfield, and her son, Joshua Carter, of Fresno, Texas; as well as her mother, Vivie Ward Berry, of Montpelier; two sisters, Lisa Copeland and her husband, Jay, of Plainfield, and Wendi Everett, of Montpelier; and two brothers, Allen H. Ward Jr. and his wife, Heather, of Riverton, and Jeffery Ferris and his wife, Holly, of Montpelier; and nieces and nephews. Also surviving are her mother- and father-in-law, Shirley and Gary Carter, and brother-in-law Brian Carter and his wife, Trish, all of Marshfield.

She was predeceased by her father.

Melanie’s life will be honored and celebrated on Friday, July 12, 2013, at 4 p.m. at her late residence with a barbecue to follow.

Family and friends may call at the Hooker and Whitcomb Funeral Home, 7 Academy St., Barre, on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.

To reflect her interest in the Home Health Care Program in the mid-Vermont area, memorial contributions may be made to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641.